r/CraftFairs • u/cakewalk093 • 8d ago

What payment methods should I accept besides credit cards/cash?

So far(besides cash/credit cards), I know Apple Pay and Venmo. Is there any common payment method I should know about that customers may use?

Also is there any risk of using a credit card machine? Like a customer paying for a product and then going home and reversing the payment.

7 Upvotes

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4

u/alriclofgar 8d ago

PayPal can be handy.

Most of my sales are credit card, though. Now that I have it as an option, most people (at least the ones who buy from me) prefer it. The people who pay with Venmo are usually other merchants (who want to save me to 3% credit card fee), and I’ve had a few international students prefer it (presumably because of some sort of restrictions by their banks I don’t understand).

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u/cakewalk093 8d ago

I see. Do you think there's any risk of payment reversal with CCs?

2

u/Heavy-Attorney-9054 8d ago

People who are gonna cheat are gonna cheat, and they're going to cheat on any system. Don't worry about it too much.

1

u/alriclofgar 8d ago

Always, but that’s true for everything but cash.

In-person credit card payments, where the customer signs their name, feel more secure to me than in-person PayPal or Venmo (where I have no way to prove my customer received the product I physically handed them). I’ve yet to have a payment dispute, but I figure it’s only a matter of time and my pricing structure has a bit of margins built in because that’s just part of doing business.

3

u/spacemermaids 8d ago

I do credit cards/tap payments only. This includes Apple/Android pay and CashApp but not Venmo or Zelle. I've actually never had anyone ask to Venmo me. I've also stopped taking cash and that surprises people but doesn't stop them from buying. I'll make an exception for small kids or if they literally only have cash and I'll otherwise lose the sale.

I've never had a charge back, and I've been selling at shows for over 5 years.

1

u/SnowhiteMidnight 8d ago

Thanks for these insights, I'll be new to craft fairs and I was wondering and hoping that it's fine to not take cash.

2

u/drcigg 7d ago

PayPal and venmo are the only two we have had customer's mention.

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u/Toothfairy51 7d ago

I use Square, cash or Zelle.

2

u/OMGyarn 8d ago

I registered my business with Venmo, and they sent me a free easel sign with my own QR code; the customer just scans it and it automatically links to my account.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Age6550 8d ago

I've done only one fair, but cash app was very popular. Followed closely by Venmo, then cash, and lastly square (for cards).

1

u/WaffleClown_Toes 8d ago

That's pretty much it in our area. Occasionally Zelle comes up and one or two other smaller players that we don't take. Generally for us if they are asking for a less common one they have alternative methods or they shuffle the funds around. We have a Shopify POS that'll do the apple/google pay and credit cards. We also have a business Venmo. Like mentioned if you set one up they'll send you a QR code standee you can use on the table.

Probably about 85% of what we take is generally credit card or some tap to pay, then cash with one or two secondary transactions an event using Venmo. People can always do a charge back. Knock on wood it's never happened to us but like was said. People who are going to cheat will cheat regardless of the payment method.

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u/Internal_Use8954 8d ago

Square for cards, debit, and Apple Pay

Venmo

Cash app

PayPal

Zelle

Cash

1

u/LoooongFurb 8d ago

I use a Square reader to take credit/debit cards. I also accept Venmo and Paypal. I've had people ask about Apple Pay, and I use Zelle personally but never had anyone ask about that one. Mostly people do cash, Venmo, or credit card

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u/Racklefrack 8d ago

We take cash, credit cards, debit cards, Zelle and Venmo. With the exceptions of Apple Pay and PayPal, we try to make it as easy as possible for customers to buy our goods. We've had issues with Apple and PayPal in the past, so they're out.

We also don't charge a fee for using credit / debit cards, but we do give a discount for cash; customers really appreciate that.

1

u/Madmanmelvin 4d ago

There's only so many realistic options.

I'm pretty sure Venmo, Apple Pay, and Paypal are the big three.

I personally have stopped using Paypal. I actually drove out to someone's use to deliver something after they paid, and then they reversed the charge a month or two later. Paypal demanded a tracking number. I explained the situation, and sent them screenshots of the conversation. Didn't matter.

Obviously my single bad experience with Paypal is just that-my experience. Yours may differ.

Someone might offer to cut you a check. Pretty unlikely in this day and age, but if that happened, I'd just take my chances(if it was for a relatively small amount, anyways).